document.write( "Question 369111: the foot of a ladder is 9 feet from the wall. the ladder is 3 feet longer than the distance it reaches up the wall. How far up the wall does the ladder reach? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #263029 by ewatrrr(24785) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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document.write( "Hi,
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document.write( "Let x represent the length up the wall. Then ladder length would be (x+3)
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document.write( "applying the Pythagorean Theorem
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document.write( "9^2 + x^2 = (x+3)^2
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document.write( "81 + x^2 = x^2 + 6x + 9
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document.write( "72 = 6x
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document.write( "12 = x, length up the wall the ladder reaches
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document.write( "checkingour answer
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document.write( "81 + 144 =  225 = 15^2 \n" );
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